PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 239 



absorbed by the blood. Some individual animals require 

 more thaii others, per given weight, to produce the com- 

 plete dormant state. 



FATALITIES FROM INHALATION AN^STHE- 

 SIA.^Inhaled anaesthetics may cause death by (i) toxic 

 asphyxia; (2) reflex syncope; (3) direct syncope; or by 

 (4) post-anaesthesia complications. The fatalities in 

 anesthetized animals are more numerous than in man, 

 largely because the veterinarian is less experienced in the 

 administration than the trained human anzesthetist. Veter- 

 inarians of wrider experience lose fewer than the one only 

 occasionally resorting to the general anaesthetic. And be- 

 sides, the veterinarian is seldom properly assisted in his 

 operation. He must generally divide his attention between 

 the anaesthetic and the operation, or else depend upon an 

 inexperienced assistant to administer the latter. Further- 

 more, domestic animals are more difficult to manage and 

 hence ofifer more obstacles to the administration of the 

 anaesthetic in its proper dilution with air. That is to say, 

 the amount of inhaled vapor is much more difficult to regu- 

 late. The mortality with chloroform in the horse from all 

 causes is about i per 800, and with ether in the dog about 

 I per 400. In the human it is i per 16000 with ether and i per 

 3150 with chloroform. It is much greater in the sick patient 

 than in the surgical subject in good general health. The 

 rate of mortality in very sick horses, — say from septic in- 

 fections, — ^is really very high, especially from compli- 

 tions. Chloroform is very dangerous to the fat, idle horse, 

 and ether is equally dangerous in the old, fat dog that has 

 had insufficient exercise. Heaving horses are hazardous 

 risks, afid the roarer is none too safe. Animals that have 

 been narcotized with drugs, especially with cocaine, are 

 very susceptible to chloroform syncope. 



I. Toxic Asphyxia. — Over-dosing with inhaled chlo- 



